Identity Theft Protection for National Consumer Protection

(PRWEB) February 11, 2005 -- As National Consumer Protection Week comes
to an end, it is important to remember the tactics to protect yourself against
identity theft. Identity theft is currently the number one consumer fraud
in the country. Millions of people were affected by some sort of identity
fraud last year. To reduce the possibility of becoming a victim of identity
theft, here are a few measures you should consider taking:

· Shred all documents that contain social security numbers or account
numbers. This includes paycheck stubs, monthly bank statements, and credit
card receipts with full credit card numbers.
· Remember to take in your mail every day. With everyone’s
busy schedule, checking the mail can often get overlooked. Unsecured mail
boxes are goldmines for id thieves who can intercept pre-approved credit
card offers or even the actual credit card itself.
· Use different passwords. Vary up the passwords you use, make sure
you don’t have one password for all of your personal information.
In addition, it is a good idea to use numbers, caps, and letters in your
password so that it is harder to guess.
· Don’t carry your social security card in your purse or wallet.
Imagine if your belongings were stolen. Along with your driver’s license
and credit cards, your social security card could give identity thieves
full access to your accounts.
· Sign up for a credit monitoring service. Identity theft victims
often find out that their identities have been stolen far too late. Credit
bureaus offer credit monitoring services that alert you once someone opens
up a credit line in your name. This way, you can detect identity fraud early
to avoid unnecessary stress.

For more information, please click on one of the credit bureaus below.